Social media titan Facebook has recently acquired Redkix, a startup company that seamlessly blends instant messaging, email and calendar services into one app.

The social media company declined to publicly state what it paid for the acquisition.

Facebook reportedly acquired the startup to help to try to expand its communications features for Workplace by Facebook, the social media platform’s enterprise version, in hopes of better competing with the cloud-based communication applications offered by Slack.

Facebook recently acquired startup Redkix in order to integrate it into Workplace by Facebook

As of yet, no specific plans have been revealed to the public for as to how Facebook will merge Redkix’s features with Workplace.

The Redkix app will reportedly be shut down, though employees, including CEO Oudi Antebi and his brother CTO Roy Antebi, will join the Workplace by Facebook team. Prior to its recent acquisition by Facebook, Redkix had raised some $17 million (£13 million) in startup funding.

Both the Redkix and Facebook teams hailed the acquisition in respective statements.

Oudi and Roy Antebi released a statement that read: ‘When we launched our enterprise app, our vision was to build a centralized, inclusive and modern platform for work. By embracing email as part of the solution, we set out to open up participation, eliminate silos and connect everyone at a company.

‘As a result, we’ve seen how companies thrive when people work together. Bringing people closer together is at the core of Facebook. Workplace brings this mission to enterprises to make them more connected and productive. We’re aligned with their vision and excited to work with them to help companies collaborate and get work done.’

Likewise, a spokesperson for Facebook stated: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Redkix to the Workplace team as we continue to connect people and give the world a place to work together. Across the world, more than 30,000 companies use Workplace by Facebook to collaborate with their colleagues and get more work done.’

We are excited to announce that we have agreed to be acquired by Facebook, where we’ll join the Workplace team to help connect people and give the world a place to work together. https://t.co/dzfRp2uXk2

What is Redkix?

Redkix is a workplace communication tool that merges messaging, email and calendar functions into one app.

Founded and headed by brothers Oudi and Roy Antebi, it launched its public beta in August 2017 after a year of private testing among roughly 7,000 users. Prior to its recent acquisition by Facebook, the company had offices located in Israel and in the United States in the Silicon Valley region of California.

What is Workplace by Facebook?

Workplace by Facebook is a collaborative software platform that first started testing in early 2015 and officially launched on October 10, 2016.

Designed for use in corporate environments, it offers functions such as instant messaging and other social networking features.

While its core features are currently available free of charge, a premium service option offering upgraded features and customer support is available for a $3 (£2.28) per user monthly charge. Unlike traditional Facebook, Workplace doesn’t offer any advertising.

Workplace by Facebook is currently used by some 30,000 companies. Slack, by comparison, has over 70,000 paying customers.